The Keilawarra Disaster

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 74, 23 December 1886, Page 3

The Keilawarra Disaster

Auckland, December 22. At €be Keilawarra inquiry on the 14th, Lawrence Laurieton, a seaman on board tke KeiLuvarra, said he was a.t tke wheel at the time of the collision. He lieard Nelson, the look-out man, make a report to the chiei officer at five minutes past 8. He reported something ahead, or nearly ahead, but witness did not hear what was said. The chief officer picked up his glasses and said to the man on the look-out '*I see it." Witness saw tke Capiaiu eotn.9 out shortly after, but 4id net hear the words which passed between tke two. He heard the Captaiu say to the chief officer "are the lights all right?" The latter said first, " The lights are all taight sir," and he then went to examine, and when he returned gave the Captain to understand that the lights were ail right. The next thing witness heard was an order to port helm, the Captain, when he was porting, gave him in tjuick succession the order "hard a-porfc. 7 ' The chief officer and the look- out man lent a iiand in carrying the order out. Before the helm was hard over, the chief officer left, and said he could smell smoke. He -could not say whether before or after he had received the order to port, the chief officer said to the captaiu "you had better go astern." He saw the captain put his hand on the telegraph, but he did not ring until he gave the order hard-a-port. Just before the chief officer left the wheel, he heard him saj, "By God, she's into us." The whole thing happened in a very few seconds, and it ■was but a short time from the giving of the order to the crashing of the ships. From where he was steering he could not see right ahead, but he i could not see anything on the starboard side. He had nut seen the smoke uutil the order was given, and immediately after then he saw the boom of the Helen Nichoil's bow, and saw her strike the ship. He heard no whistle fiom the other boat or the Keilawarra. Edward Robert Fraser, captain of the Helen NirhoU, said:— The evening was moderately clear, with a moderate breeze from the north-east. There were two able seamen, a fireman, and a passenger lost from the Helen Nicholl during the collision with the Keilawarra. He was not on deck at eight o'clock, but he was out a quarter of aa hour before, and nothing was reported to him. lie heard the bell go two, wliiek in.eu.nt that there was a. light on. the starboard buw. The next thing lie heard was the second officer calhug hitn, making some such remark as " Oh, God, Captain Fraser ! here's a fellow coming right into us," " Eight across us," or something of the sort. Witness rushed to the telegraph to stop the ship, and found the second officer's haiid on it. He saw this vessel coming across ; he saw the saloon lights, but only one red light ; he saw no masthead light. He had given the order to go astern before she was struck:. Amongst the passengers whom he took on board was McGregor, chief officer of tliti Koilawarra. Witness said it was a very sad tiling, and he vnpliittl fchnt it wart. Witmss said, "What in the name of God could you l>e lining. He said, " Tins bl-Astetl port business has been the death of many men." Whe.i McGregor made this remark about " tin; "blasted pnrt business," tlio chief engineer of the llelou Xiclwll was present. Thi* second mate came <»n duty at 8 o\-l< ck the smie morning, llu could not siiy whether thu matt: was on duty foeftm: that time. The chief officer suporintouded the loading. l>V r Mr Wise : - Did you know that this man whom c<»u left in charge of tho slap had been on duty for some fiftoen hours at a stretch!-" Xo. He had been on duty for twelve hours at a stretch. Well, I daresay it — uo, not on continuous duly; he was relieved at dinner by the lainjjtninuier.